How Swimming Can Affect Your Oral Health

When temperatures start to climb, there’s nothing better than taking a dip in whatever pool you can find. For the most part, dentists don’t have the same problem with swimming that they do with other sports—however, there are still some things that you may want to be cautious about if you want to prevent dental emergencies.

If you’re planning to spend time at the pool this summer, here are a few things you may want to keep in mind.

Chlorine and Your Teeth

Nothing says summer like the smell of chlorine, but as it turns out, spending too much time in chlorinated water can cause issues.

The biggest concern is something called “Swimmer’s Calculus.” Broadly speaking, calculus is an area of dense buildup on the teeth, and this term refers specifically to the buildup of chlorine on your smile. Swimmer’s calculus looks like a series of yellow/brownish streaks on the front or back of your teeth.

This is really only a concern for people who spend six hours or more at a time in chemically treated water, so as long as you aren’t overenthusiastic you should be fine. If you do have this issue, your dentist may recommend coming in for more frequent cleanings to break up chlorine deposits.

Rules at the Pool

While swimming isn’t as dangerous as other activities, there are ways that things can go wrong if you aren’t careful. Running by the pool, diving into the shallow end, coming up suddenly from the water, and not looking where you’re going while swimming can all cause serious dental emergencies.

If you want to protect your teeth, take care to follow all of the pool’s rules to a T. After all, the rules are there to keep you safe (and the pool free from lawsuits).

Watch Your Prosthetics

If you have dentures, a retainer, or other kinds of removable dental work, be sure to take these out before getting in the pool. When you’re swimming and diving, it can be all too easy to lose them without even realizing it.

Many kinds of dental work can also be damaged by chlorine in the pool, so even if you’re sure you won’t lose them, it’s probably a good idea to remove any oral appliances before going swimming.

About the Author

Dr. Henry Lu comes to work with one goal in mind: making sure that his patients never have to feel bad about their teeth. He places great emphasis on the importance of preventive care so that his patients can go through life confident in their oral health. Dr. Henry received his degree from the Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine. In the interest of continuing his education, he is a member of both the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association.

If you have any questions about dental emergencies, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (469) 998-9822.